Increase in Costa Rica Electric Bills?

Costa Rica News – A day after we got a little excited about a possible decrease in the cost of living expenses in Costa Rica when gas prices were dropped, ICE has now made a request to increase electricity rates.

The Instituto Costarricense de Electricidad (ICE) requested the Regulatory Authority for Public Services (Aresep) approve an increase of 5.56% in the fee for distribution of electricity to Costa Rica.

The ICE justifies its request by arguing that the money will be used to meet costs and operating expenses.

They also will use it to obtain the resources intended to generate an investment plan.

Carolina Mora, ARESEP spokeswoman, explained that if approved, the new rates would apply from January next year.

Although this does not seem like that big a hike it does increase yet again the cost of living in Costa Rica, which is lagging behind any increase in incomes to the Costa Rican people.

If there was an adjustment each year in salaries in Costa Rica to make sure that incomes stayed on course with the actual cost of living then this would not be a big deal. However in Costa Rica minimum wage is not enforced except in certain instances and poverty runs rampant.

The increase in poverty has led to an increase in crime as people try to tend to their basic needs; food, water, and shelter.

We can only hope the Costa Rican government addresses this issue before the gap between those with and those without grows to a point beyond repair.